daa2 caai4打柴

Jyutpingdaa2 caai4

Yaledá chàaih

動詞Rare

Definition

To break down or stop working.

colloquialtechnologydaily actions

How it's used

Originally a slang term referring to the act of gathering firewood, it evolved into a metaphor for something becoming useless or non-functional. It is most frequently applied to mechanical objects like appliances, vehicles, or electronic devices. While it can technically refer to a person dying in very specific, dark humor contexts, using it for objects is the standard way to sound like a local.

Examples

bou6部din6電nou5腦daa2打zo2咗caai4柴，hoi1開m4唔dou3到gei1機aa4呀。

The computer broke down, I can't turn it on.

nei5你bou6部din6電waa2話hai6係mai6咪daa2打zo2咗caai4柴？dim2點gaai2解mou5冇faan2反jing3應？

Is your phone broken? Why is there no response?

Common phrases

daa2打zo2咗caai4柴

has broken down

Common mistake

Avoid using this term to describe a person who is physically exhausted or tired, as that would be a misunderstanding of its primary usage for inanimate objects. Also, do not use it in formal settings or professional reports, as it remains strictly colloquial.